THOS. MOORE FESTIVAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10289, 26 May 1919, Page 3

THOS. MOORE FESTIVAL

ANNUAL COMPETITIONS

Tho competitions which are held annually in conjunction with th 3 Thomas Moors festival, took place on Saturday in tho Sydney street schoolroom, tho Town Hall being unavailable. Tho competition subjects were all works of Thomas Moore, and con- j sisted of songs, dusts, and choir work. Tho preliminary tests took place, during tho day. They were well contested, tho judges choosing two or three j of the best competitors in each caso to j reappear in the final tests in tho even- I ing. The hall ou this occasion was wed filled, and some very good per- j formanccs took place. The children s voices were for the most part very j truo and clear, though in some cases marred by a certain indistinctness in diction, due doubtless to the fact that it is aln-nvs difficult to make the young person open his or her mouth sufficiently to articulate properly. I Tho choir tests were particularly pleasing. Those taking part were the Tasmau street choir, conducted by Brother Fidelia; liawkestone street ilarist Brothers, conducted by Brother Dionvsius (who showed a wonderful command over his pupils); the Kiibirnio Girls' School, conducted by Mr E. J. Healy; tho J?etone Convent, conducted by Mr A. Foote; and the Guildford terrace Convent, who sang without any conductor. These last two convents competed against one another in the finals for the girls' choir challenge shield, the test pieces being "Love's Young Dream" and "Oft iu tho Stilly Night," the latter unaccompanied. The judge, Mr Frank Oakes, in allotting the prize to the former, explained that he could not see the performers, but the Petone choir won because, while their opponents sang very well in unison, they had given the song in parts, by which they had gained many points. Indeed, though their voices went slightly flat at one time, they gave a creditable performance in part-singing. The KMbirnie girls' choir competed with the two bovs' choirs in the test for the Bogg challenge shield, but failed because they did not give sufficient effect to the pauses in the piece set, ''Erin, the Tear." Nevertheless, they gave a good performance, and their articulation was especially clear, and thenvoices tuneful. The judge, in speaking of the bovs' choir test, the Bristol .shield, explained that points were given for different thisgs, rhythm, time, etc., and the chief failures lay in lack in phrasing and expression. Indeed, as was only natural, the boys showed little of the last, and did not seem to catch much of tho meaning of Thomas Moore, Eiveu the girls in i their songs lacked this, though showI ing slightly more than tho boys. _ I Mr Uakes, in announcing his judgment, said he wished to congratulate tho teachers on the performances. iThey showed that a great deal ot time had been expended in training the children, -but this had been repaid by the results. They were especially glad that Petone had sent such, a largo' number of competitors, this being" the first' time they had entered. They hoped to have tne co-operation of more schools each year. There were only two elocutionary tests, open to all, that for boys being "Tho Dving Warrior," and for girls "The Pilgrim." In the first, C. Knight gave a very good rendering of a difficult piece, ii'is opponent m tho finals, Frank Kyau,' seemed to laytoo much stress on his terminal letters. In the girls' class, Eileen Higgins showed herself a clear and pleas in"- reciter, without too much 'elocution," which so oliteu mars children's performances in tins art. Mr P. J o'Began, who judged this section, said tho results were highly creditable. All the competitors had done well. He strongly urged all <.o co-operate in theso competitions. Moore was not cultivated as he ought to bo even among those who were not Irish. Mr O'Began said he knew of no more stimulating, intellectual study than that of his poems. He hoped one effect ot these competitions would, be to arouse, the younger generation to study Moore, and so keep alivo the Irish traditions i even among those not born in Ireland. The following were the awards: — | CHOIB SECTION. The Begg Challenge Shield —Test pieces "Tho Valley Lay Shining Before Mo" and "Erin tho Tear" (unaccompanied) : Tasman street, 160 points, 1; tlawkestoue street, 152 points, 2. The Bristol Shield (boys)—"Canadian Boat Song" and "I Saw You from the [Beach" (unaccompanied): Hawkesione street, 150 points, 1; Tasman street School, 1-17 points, 2. . Special Challcngo Shield (girls choir)'—Test pieces, "Love's \oung Dream," "Oft in the Stilly Night' : Potone Convent, 14S points. 1: Guildford terrace Convent, 145 points, 2. i MISCELLANEOUS SECTION.

Girls' Soprano Solo—Test piece, The Young Mav Moon": Molly Keating, 60 noinis, 1; Irene Maude, 64 pomts/»'2; Kathleen Koarns also recalled. Soprano Solo (boys)—Test piece, "Slit, is Fax from the Land": Thomas George, 79 points, 1; J. Waters. 76 points, 2. Alto Solo (boys)—Test piece, "0, Breathe Not Hib Name": Cecil Waters, 74 points, 1; Eric Murphy, 02'points, 2. George Collier also recalled. Duet (girls)—Tost piece, "The Meeting of the Waters": Maggie Keating and M. Gnvnor. 67 points. 1; Molly Keating and Kathleen Kearns, 65 points, 2. _ Duet(bovs), "Tlio Harp That Once ,T. and 0. Waters, 77 points. 1: Frank Whitlev and William Cate, -12 point*. 2. Boys' Solo (open clnssV "Believe Me. If All Those Endoarinc; Youns; Charms" —,Tohn Waters, 75 points, 1; Thomas Goorpe. 71 points, 2. Girls' Solo (ooeu class), "The Last T?nso of Summer"—lrene Wnrd. 63 "oints, 1; MiUicent MeKay. 32 points. o.

Ftlocub'on (onen to p\\ hoys), "Tlie Dyinrr Warrior" —C. Knight, 44 points, 1 : Frank Bvan, point-!. 2. Girl' "Ths» Pilpr'"^"— TTi<rrins, 48 nnints, 1; MilKcenl: McK-iy, 4-5 prints. 9

Tlie officers in of tho eot«tipiiOakes: supervisor. Mr V,. TR. L. Beide: ti- pno „rn r . SW ,T. .T. T/. Burke: secretary, Mr .T. V. TTosWns.